Electric toaster



Jan. 8, 1924. 1,480,084

f J. F. LAMB ELECTRIC ToAsTER Filed sept. 21. 1922 5 sheets-sheet 1 Jan. 8 1924.

J. F. LAMB ELECTRIC ToAsTER 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 21

Jam w24. 1,480,084

J. F. LAMB ELECTRIC ToAsTEri I...HHHHHV Snowdon Jan. 8 1924.

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 File-d sept. 21 1922 WEF.

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J. F. LAMB ELECTRIC TOASTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 2l. 1922 f fla/v5.

Patented Jin'. s, 1924.

UNITED As'rA'rrs-s PATENT carica.

'JOSEPH r. Lum, or Nrw amm, coimnc'rrcu'r. Assxexon 'ro amm, rms a man. or imw Barnim commcrxcor, A `oonrona'rroll or connac'rxcu'r.

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To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Joearn F. Lann, a lcitizen of the 'United States, residing at New Britain, county of Hartford, lState of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements lin Electric Toasters, of which the following is a f ull, clear, and exact description. My invention relates to electric toasters and has for its object to provide 'a' new and improved toaster which will toast more quickly and keep the toast warmv and which has various other advantages and novel features as hereinafter more clearly set forth.A 1 1 The following is a description of a toaster Y embodying my invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in j which,

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal vertical section of a heating chamber of the toaster with the' toast rack inserted therein Fi 2 lis a vertical transverse section on i the lline 2 2, Fig. 1; n

Fi 3 shows the housing in section as 91 in Fig. 1 with the toast rack partially with` drawn;

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of the toastrack on the line 4-4, Fig. 5;

Fi .'5 isa section of the toast rackon -3o the l1ne 5 5, Fig. .4; v

l of .the lower rear por- .l Fig. 6 is a detai tionp'f the toast nick;-

wFig. 7 is asection on the line 7-7, Fig. 4; ,ig.,8 is a section onthe line 8-1-8, Fi 3; Fi 9 is a section similar to that of ig. 2 wit the rack removed-showing a modified vconstruction of the Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional elevationshowing particularly one form of heating unit that may be' employed` in the improvedI toaster; and A i Fig. -11 is a sectional view, taken on the line 1.1-1'1 of Fig. 1o. ,fr Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 is a downwardly anedbase plate I having non-metallic' legs 3. e arried by the base plate is ahousing 5 having at one end an opening or door 7 and a top plate 9 which with said base constitute a heat-retaining to casing. The sitlej walls of this housing are preferably formed from one continuous these lugs and 4sheet of metal starting on one side of the door 7 and extending around four sides to the other side of the door. The top late 9 is/secured in position by bolts 11 which extend therethrough and through the basej being located inthe four corners of the side walls and holding/ the portions together. Adj acent'tothe lower edges ofthe side Walls 4 are yU-shaped members 13 through the ends e0 of, which ass the bolts 11. The upper porf tions of t e side -walls are held in position relatively to the top f9 by three sided angle irons 15 which are-brazed or welded to the top late 9 and which fit` within the corners of t e side walls. The inner sidesof the members 13 at their upper ends are bent at a right angle so as \to project inwardly, forming flanges 17 which act'as ides for the crumb tray hereinafter descri d. The "I0 vertical sides'19 alsoact as guiding surfaces for the crumb tray. Secured within the housing 'are two vertical metal plates 21 having outturned ortions constltutingtlugs 22 adjacent tot eir upper` corners-but somewhat removed from their upper ends and having outturned ian'g'es 23 along theirlower edges. Through anges the bolts 11 pass, hold Y ing the plates in vertical position-and spaced awa from the inner sides of the casing.

e plates are secured to the base by, screws 24 passing throughthe -bottoms of the U-shaped members 13 and entering the flanges 23, thus securing the U-shaped mema5 bers also. In thisway the securing means, except' forthe heads ,of the bolts 11, are concealtd so that the case can be given a fine and elent a pearance.

. Supported'l b t ese plates 21 and secured ao thereto by eye ets 25- are sheets of mlca 26, which form` insulatin supports 'for the heating `elements 31 an also constitute rel' fleeting surfaces. :The mica sheets are provided with a series of hooks 27 which-have 95 e elet bases from-which rise two arms 28.

e hooks are. secured to the mica sheets in the samemanner as ordinaryI eyelets, being pthrough holes "=-and having. their ends upset. o The prongs 28 which con- 100 stitute the anne of a U- shaped Structure are bent around heating element as it is put in (place, securely holding it in position. In or er that` there shall be no electrical connection between the hooks and the plate 21 the plate is provided with a series of holes -29 in alinement with the eyelet hooks as.

on each support terminate on the inner up-. per and lower corners of-those platesbeing' secured to binding posts 45. The two upperV ends 'are electrically connected together by a conductor 43 which is also secured to said posts 45 so as to form a continuous heating element. rlhe conductor 43 is surroundedby an insulating tube 47 covering its intermediate portion. The connections 36 -between the f lower ends of the resistance elements and the plug terminals are surrounded by similar insulating tube Sections 49.

'lhe plug terminals 35 are carried by the casing, being insulated therefrom and from each other by mica orthe like. The plugs are held in place by external nuts 37, with the result that the plugs, resistance elements 31, and the supports 21 can be entirely assembled before they are introduced into vthe housing. When so assembled they are introduced and secured in place by the bolts 11 and nuts 37 and screws 24 as shown.

Within the casing thus formed is a vertical toast raclr having a base ,51 in the form oi a tray whose outer upturned edges slide in close contact with the "vertical guiding surfaces 19 of the members 13 and whose upper edges are overhung by Vthe flanges 17. The tray and `toast rack are therefore, ositively guided so as to move in a de nite rectilineal path properly spaced away from the heating elements. rThis rack has a traine comprising wire supports 53 secured to the titl front plate and a rear plate 57 secured v to the tray and wire side members 59 having their lower portions formed with hooks 61 bent beneath. spacing anges 63 on araised carrier plate 65 and secured at their upper ends to the wire 53 by brazing or the like.

l' The rack also comprises spring toast holding :members 67 whose lower ends are bent inrier platev is secured to the plate 55 and 57 and by them to the crumb tray 51.4 Thesespring membersv 67 properly center any sizes i oit toast which are not thick enough to be centered by the rigid side members 59. The

spaced away from ytlie base adistance equal to the., normal height of the crumb tray This prevents the crumb rtray `from being accidentally separated'from the casing, and automatically`v stops the movement of the crumb tray when pulled out as shown in- Fig. '3, at which time the rack will be sup- .l ported by the engagement of the crumb tray with the lower portions -of the front' wall ,and with the r`forward portion of the base. The crumb tray can be entirelyl separated by -swinging'itsidewise so that the lug can be slipped lthrough the door 7 or by canting the crumb tray upwards. If it is desired, the crumb tray maybe stopped with` the rear plate v57 inline-with the front wall of the casing, which will result in substantially 'closingthe door of the casing and thus act toconserve the heat therein. fWhen the rack is in' normal position the plate 55;' closes the door of the casing except for a slight opening at the top which'is advisable for ventilation purposes. -Spaced away from the vplate 55 by the bent edges 72 is a cover plate which laps overthe edges of the door.

An opening 77 is* foi-ined in the upper end of the rear wall of the casingvfor ventilation,

as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A longitudinally p extending series of open1ngs7 9 is provided along the upper portion of each side of the casing, resulting in circulation of airl tending to'make the degree of heat more uniform in all parts of the casing and heat toescape.

yll`he hjeating elements preferably are formed in horizontal loops and the loops so Pformed are spaced away-from veach other, the spaces increasingfi'rom bottom to top so as to obtain amore uniform distribution of heat, since the heat naturally rises so that it takes less heating surface at the top to secure the same internal temperature. The rack is provided with a handle 83 and preferably the opposite end of the casing is provided with a similar handle 85, the two handles forming a convenient means of lifting the toaster when desired.

The lowe'i` i'ear end of the casin slot 93 which is closed by the rear and crumb tray 'when the crumb tra-y is fully inserted, as shown in Fig. 1.

' lin the inodiiication shown in Fig. 9 the supports are rinade otmetal 89 carrying directly connected supporting hooks 91 in which the elements are moun'ted.- 'l/hese niet-al supports 89, together with lthe hooks 91, are assembled as shown and then im` mersed in an insulating enamel bath which coats the sides of the plate with a reflectingsurface and also covers the hooks 91 with has a of the permitting excess t ies insulation so that the heating element mounted thereon has its various turns insulated from one another and the metallic support although the hooks themselves may be electrically connected to the body of the plate 89. These plates 89 have their upper and lower edges bent outwardly as shown at 95 so as to be spaced away from the outer wall of thecasing and in this construction the bolts 11 preferably pass through these spacing flanges. In this lformthe members 13 are free from the side walls and are riveted to the base as shown.

In the construction shown in Figs. and 11, the heating unit comprises a sheet metal plate 97 which is secured to the side wall of the toaster by screws 98, a sheet 99 of asbestos being interposed between the plate 97 and the side wall. The Supporting plate 97 is provided with a depressed portion 100 extending longitudinally thereof, which is laid against the asbestos sheet 99 so as to form supporting portions 101 and 102 spaced from the asbestos'sheet and the side walls, the supporting portion 102 having spacing lugs 103 stuck out therefrom, the ends of which engage the asbestos sheet 99. The supporting portion 102 is of considerably greater width than the portion 101,

A. binding post 106 is mounted on and insulated froml the supporting portion 102 at the lower left hand cornerv thereof, viewing Fig. 10, and is connected with the plug terminal 35. One end of a heating conductor 108 is secured to the binding post 106 and the conductor is carried back and forth in loops longitudinally over the supporting portion 102 and is held thereon by hooks 110 secured tothe mica sheet 104 opposite holes 111 in plate 97 so as to be insulated there/ from, there being threev horizontal stretches of the heating conductor extending substantially the length of the portion 102. The

' heatingconductor is then carried lacross the forward end of the depressed portion 100 of the plate 97 and looped over `a hook ,110 secured to the mica sheet-104 on the supporting portion 101 of the plate. The conductor is then looped alternately over hooks 110 on themica sheets on the supporting Vportions 102 and 101 of said plate and its end secured `to a binding post 112 which is mounted on and insulated from the left hand end of the supporting portion 101 of apparent. that this' form of heating unit isy simple. strong and durable in construction.

In the toaster as above described on account ofthe com Wlete enclosure'of the toast in aheat retaining container the toast is made under a hotter heat, resultin .in hotter toast. It is also made more quie 1y. The toast lcan be kept warm for a considerable time even when the current is disconnected. The holder has a crumb tray which prevents the scattering of crumbs, and which automatically ejects through the rear opening 93 crumbs which may have l'etten into the bottom of the container. T 1e heating element with its supports and terminals can be completely assembled before it is applied to the casing. The connection between the two portions of the heating element is at a point where it is out of the way, viz: at the to and rear end and is furthermore insulate so that electrical contact with it can not be made. The inner ends ofthe terminals 35 are spaced away from the back plate ot the rack so that they can not be short-cip cuited thereby, the limit of movement of the rack being defined by the engagement of the front plate 75 with the portions adjacent the door of the housing.

After the crumb tray has been moved to theposition shown in Fig. 3 it can be moved so as to disengage its retaining lugs 71 and can then be easily separated. The use of the vertical rack with the elements on both sides results in proper spacing of the toast from the heating elements without relation to the thickness of the toast.

As will be evident to those skilled in the art.. my invention permits of various other modifications without. departing from the spirit thereof or the scope ot' the appended claims.

What I'claim is:

1. An electric toaster having a heat retaining casing provided with a door, heating conductors'supported therein and lying in two vertical planes, a vertical toast holding rack movable through said door to and from the space between ,said planes, and a crumb tray beneath said rack and extending beyond the sides thereof. said door having lateral extensions at its bottom portion so as to conform substantially to the outline of the upper portion of said rack and admit said tray.

2. An electric toaster having a heat retaining casing provided with a door. heating conductors. supported therein and lying in two vertical planes. a vertical toast helding ra'ck movable through said door to and from the space between said planes, and a crumb tray beneath said rack and extending beyond the sidesthereof. said door having lateral extensions at its bottom portion soas to conform substantially to the. outline of the upper portion of said rack and admitsaid tray. said casing having an opening in its rear face, in line with said extensions adapted to be closed b v said tray when fully inserted.

3. An electric toasterhaving a heat retaining casing provided with a door, heating conductors supported therein and in two vertical planes, a vertical toast ol lng rack movable throughsaid door to and.

i in two vertical planes, a verticaltoast holding rack movable through said door to and from the space between said planes, and a crumb tray supporting said rack and extending beyond the sides thereof, said door having lateral extensions at vits bottom portion so as to conform substantially to the outline of the upper portion of said rack and admit said tray, said tray and said casing having on -their rear and front portions resectively parts adapted to engage when sai to limit further outward movement of said tray.

5. An electric toaster having a heat retaining casing provided with a door, heating conductors supported therein and lyingv in two vert-ical planes, and a vertical toast holding rack movable through said door to and from the space between sai-dplanes, said heating conductors vhaving horizontal loops.

6. An electric toaster having a heat retaining casing provided with a door, heating conductors supported therein and lying in two vertical planes, and a vertical toast holding rack movable through said door to and from the space between said planes, said heating conductors having horizontal loops, the lower loops bein of helically wound wire and the upper oop of substantially straight wire.

7. Anelectric toaster having a casing, a removably?I and replaceable umt com rising two supports ada ted to be secure adjacent to the side wa ls of said casing, heating conductors carried by said supports and connected together, and plug terminals connected to the free ends of said conductors and adapted to be secured to the inner end of said casing, and means for detachablv securing said supports' and said terminals to said inner end and within said casing respectively so as to hold the parts of said unit in their proper. positions.

8. An electric toaster having a heat re-v taining casing provided with a door, heating conductcrs supported therein and lying 1n two vertical planes, and a vertical toast holding rack movable through said door to tray is in its outer position so as and from the space between said planes, terminals onthe side of said casing. oppoengaging said casing so as to limit thein-v ward move-ment of said rack before it Areaches said inner ends of said terminals.

9. In an'electric toastery a rack comprising vertical end members, a plate connected to the lower ends of said members, two spacing members connecting .their upper ends, and upri ht loops having their lower ends open an hooked beneath said plate and their upper ends closed and secured to said spacing members. l

l0. An electric toaster having a heat retaining' casing provided with a door, heating conductors supported therein and lying in two vertical planes, and a vertical` toast holding rack movable through said door to and from the space between said planes, the sides ofsaid casing having a longitudinally extending series of Ventilating openings adjacent to lthe top portion thereof.l

1l. ln a toaster'a housing consisting ot a strip forming three sides of a casing, heating elements supported within said housing and adjacent to the two opposite sides thereof, a base and cover ortion I:for said housing, bolts extending through said cover and base and within said housing holding said base, cover and housing together, said housing having at one end an opening constituting a door for inserting and removing the material to be toasted.

12. ln a .toaster a housin consisting of a strip forming three sides o a casing, heating elements supported within said housing and adjacent to the two opposite sides thereof, a base and cover ortion for said housing, bolts extending tiirough said cover and base and within said housing holding said base, cover and housing together, and supports for said heating elements having outwardly turned perforated portions through which-bolts extend, said housing having at one end an opening constituting a door for inserting and removing the material to be toasted. Y

13. An electric toaster having a casing com rising sides, top and bottom plates, two

gui es adJacent to said -bottom plate and also adjacent to said sides, two sup orts extending parallel to said sides an having lower o utturned flange portions engaging said guidesand upper outturned lug porltions, bolts passing through said top andV bottom plates and locatedvwithin the corners of said casing, said bolts passing through the top and bottom outturned portions of said supports and through said guudes, and screws passing through said site said door, said terminals having eX-V l bottom plate and guide and into. the lower flanges of said support so as to secure said support as well as said guides within said casing.

.14. ln an electric heater the combination of a metallic Support having a plurality o openings, a Sheet of refractory insulating material secured thereto, a, series of retaining hooks extending through said sheet in almement with said openings so as to be supported by said sheet but electrically separated from said metallic support and a heating element carried by said hooks.

JOSEPH F. LAMB. 

